Artist breaks down and cries in front of live audience at the 2010 BET Awards

By Brandon I. BrooksSentinel Entertainment Editor

R&B star Chris Brown paid tribute to Michael Jackson at the 2010 BET Awards held in Los Angeles this past week at the world famous Shrine Auditorium.

There has been a lot of talk about Browns tribute performance but the buzz wasn't based around Brown's knockout dance routine where he wowed the viewers with his best Michael Jackson impersonation, but rather for the fact that Brown broke down in an adolescent tear-jerking cry in front of a live audience and millions of viewers watching at home.

For those of you that have yet to see the 2010 BET awards or as we call it now days, the infamous YouTube clip, to recap, Brown had just finished up an awesome dance routine where he mimicked many of Michael Jackson's celebrated dance routines from notable music videos. Just as Â Brown was set to sing "Man in the Mirror," Brown got very emotional and started bawling (literally) when he was suppose to sing the song. Â He tried to regroup several times but the emotion just kept building and Brown could never get hold of his self to sing properly. It caused a stir in the audience and at home because Brown would end up crying throughout the entire "Man in the Mirror" song. He just paced back and forth with slouched shoulders trying to gather his emotions. It was a shocking scene to witness but none the less great television for BET.

With all that has happened to Chris Brown's image over the past year you would think Brown would have received nothing but praise for his performance but his image seems to be in worse shape than we think because many people are speculating that Brown may have staged the emotions to gain sympathy from fans.

Last year, Brown's reputation took a heavy hit after a highly publicized domestic dispute with R&B star Rihanna. That is the reason Brown was not allowed to perform at last year's BET Awards tribute to MJ because the network and executives feared that by allowing Chris to take the stage, his drama might overshadow the network's tribute to Michael Jackson. Â Jay-Z was also said to have played a major role in blocking Brown's participation at last year's show. Â To make rumors worse, it's said that Jay-Z, Beyonce and Rihanna all did not participate at this year's award show because Chris Brown was allowed to participate.

If you watched the performance I think you would disagree with the allegations that Chris Brown staged the emotions because it felt too real, even for viewers at home. Â Brown was literally bawling like a 5 year old child. Â And if you remember bawling as a child you will remember being embarrassed when you couldn't stop and you really wanted too. Â It was obvious Chris Brown broke down and couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

I could sense that Chris really felt the emotion of the night and I knew immediately that the tears weren't just for Michael but they were the song "Man in the Mirror." That's why Brown's voice kept cracking, he knew this was not only about Michael but about him.

I think all men that have ever hit a woman need to listen to the lyrics because in order to make a change you have to look yourself in the mirror. Â It starts with the individual and Chris Brown felt the vulnerability of the song. Â This was his moment to change and it just happened to be in front of millions of viewers.

So rather than continue to tear Chris Brown down and assume he is consistently up to no good, let us take a note from BET and Jermaine Jackson and allow him to have a second chance. Â We have to stop throwing our people under the bus for making mistakes. Â We are all human and we all make them.

Chris Brown has taken the heat and I feel he should always have to answer questions regarding the incident with Rihanna but at the same time he should also be giving and opportunity to grow and learn from that mistake.

What we witnessed was a rare moment that proves that everyone is human. Â Stars are no different. Â Just because they take center stage doesn't mean they are any different than any everyday person with emotions and problems. Â Chris Brown did what Michael Jackson would have done and that is be real to the core no matter how much flack you take from the public.